Pinkeye

Topic Overview

Pinkeye (also called conjunctivitis) is redness and swelling of the
conjunctiva, the mucous membrane that lines the eyelid and eye surface. The
lining of the eye is usually clear. If irritation or infection occurs, the
lining becomes red and swollen. See pictures of a normal
eye and an eye with
conjunctivitis.

Pinkeye is very common. It
usually is not serious and goes away in 7 to 10 days without medical
treatment.

Viral and bacterial pinkeye are contagious and spread very
easily. Since most pinkeye is caused by viruses for which there is usually no
medical treatment, preventing its spread is important. Poor hand-washing is the
main cause of the spread of pinkeye. Sharing an object, such as a washcloth or
towel, with a person who has pinkeye can spread the infection. For more information, see Prevention.

Viral pinkeye

Viral pinkeye is often caused by an adenovirus, which is a common
respiratory virus that can also cause a sore throat or upper respiratory
infection. The herpes virus can also cause viral pinkeye.

Symptoms of viral pinkeye include:

Redness in the white of the eye.

Swelling of the eyelids.

Itching or burning feeling of the
eyelids.

Swollen and tender areas in front of the
ears.

A lot of tearing.

Clear or slightly thick,
whitish drainage.

Viral pinkeye symptoms usually last 5 to 7 days but may last up to
3 weeks and can become ongoing or chronic.

If the pinkeye is caused by a
virus, the person can usually return to day care,
school, or work when symptoms begin to improve, typically in 3 to 5 days.
Medicines are not usually used to treat viral pinkeye, so it is important to
prevent the spread of the infection. Pinkeye caused by a herpes virus, which is
rare, can be treated with an antiviral medicine. Home treatment of viral
pinkeye symptoms can help you feel more comfortable while the infection goes
away.

Bacterial pinkeye

An infection may develop when bacteria enter the eye or the area
around the eye. Some common infections that cause pinkeye include:

Swelling of the upper eyelid, which may make the lid
appear to droop (pseudoptosis).

Bacterial pinkeye may cause more drainage than viral pinkeye.
Bacterial infections usually last 7 to 10 days without antibiotic treatment and
2 to 4 days with antibiotic treatment. The person can usually return to day care,
school, or work 24 hours after an
antibiotic has been started if symptoms have improved.
Prescription antibiotic treatment usually kills the bacteria that cause
pinkeye.

Red eye

Red eye is a more
general term that includes not only pinkeye but also many other problems that
cause redness on or around the eye, not just the lining. Pinkeye is the main
cause of red eye. Red eye has other causes, including:

Foreign bodies, such as metal or insects. For
more information, see the topic
Objects in the Eye.

Scrapes, sores, or
injury to or infection of deeper parts of the eye (for example, uveitis,
iritis, or keratitis). For more information, see the topic
Eye Injuries.

Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain
is so bad that you can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep, and
can't do anything else except focus on the pain.

Moderate pain (5 to 7): The pain is bad enough to disrupt your
normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days.
Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it's severe when it's
there.

Mild pain (1 to 4): You notice the pain,
but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.

Home Treatment

Home treatment for
pinkeye will help reduce your pain and keep your eye
free of drainage. If you wear contacts, remove them and wear glasses until your
symptoms have gone away completely. Thoroughly clean your contacts and storage
case.

Cold compresses or
warm compresses (whichever feels best) can be used. If
an allergy is the problem, a cool compress may feel better. If the pinkeye is
caused by an infection, then a warm, moist compress may soothe your eye and help
reduce redness and swelling. Warm, moist compresses can spread infection from
one eye to the other. Use a different compress for each eye, and use a clean
compress for each application.

When cleaning your eye,
wipe from the inside (next to the nose) toward the outside. Use a clean surface
for each wipe so that drainage being cleaned away is not rubbed back across the
eye. If tissues or wipes are used, make sure they are put in the trash and are not
allowed to sit around. If washcloths are used to clean the eye, put them in the
laundry right away so that no one else picks them up or uses them. After wiping
your eye, wash your hands to prevent the pinkeye from spreading.

Do not go to day care or school or go to work until pinkeye
has improved.

If the pinkeye is caused by a
virus, the person can usually return to day care,
school, or work when symptoms begin to improve, typically in 3 to 5 days.
Medicines are not usually used to treat viral pinkeye, so preventing its spread
is important. Home treatment of the symptoms will help you feel more
comfortable while the infection goes away.

If the pinkeye is caused
by bacteria, the person can usually return to day care,
school, or work after the infection has been treated for 24 hours with an
antibiotic and symptoms are improving. Prescription
antibiotic treatment usually kills the bacteria that cause pinkeye.

Use medicine as directed. Medicine may include
eyedrops and
eye ointment.

For pinkeye related to allergies,
antihistamines, such as loratadine (Claritin) or cetirizine (Zyrtec), may help relieve your symptoms. Don't
give antihistamines to your child unless you've checked with the doctor first.

If you wear contacts, be sure to remove your contacts when your eye problem starts.

Prevention

Pinkeye is spread through contact with
the eye drainage, which contains the virus or bacteria that caused the pinkeye.
Touching an infected eye leaves drainage on your hand. If you touch your other
eye or an object when you have drainage on your hand, the virus or bacteria can
be spread.

Do not use eye
makeup until the infection is fully cured, because you could reinfect yourself
with the eye makeup products. If your eye infection was caused by bacteria or a
virus, throw away your old makeup and buy new products.

Do not
share contact lens equipment, containers, or solutions.

Do not wear
contact lenses until the infection is cured. Thoroughly clean your contacts
before wearing them again.

Do not share eye
medicine.

Do not share towels, linens, pillows, or handkerchiefs.
Use clean linens, towels, and washcloths daily.

Wash your hands and
wear gloves if you are looking into someone else's eye for a foreign object or
helping someone else apply an eye medicine.

When in the wind, heat, or cold, wear eye protection
to prevent eye irritation.

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